Latest news from Florida Atlantic University on Newswise en-us Copyright 2025 Newswise 115 31 / /images/newswise-logo-rss.gif /articles/fau-engineering-researchers-develop-new-weapon-against-harmful-algal-blooms/?sc=rsin /articles/fau-engineering-researchers-develop-new-weapon-against-harmful-algal-blooms/?sc=rsin Mon, 27 Jan 2025 08:30:32 EST Effective management of phosphorus is needed to curb the rise of harmful algal blooms. Few studies have explored how algal biomass, especially blue-green algae, can be used to create materials that remove phosphate from water. Researchers have filled that gap by transforming cyanobacterial biomass into materials that can pull harmful phosphorus out of water. Florida Atlantic University /articles/cameron-g-duncan-ph-d-named-dean-of-fau-christine-e-lynn-college-of-nursing/?sc=rsin /articles/cameron-g-duncan-ph-d-named-dean-of-fau-christine-e-lynn-college-of-nursing/?sc=rsin Mon, 27 Jan 2025 08:30:25 EST Cameron G. Duncan, Ph.D., is the fourth dean in the college's 45-year history and will take the helm on Jan. 27. Florida Atlantic University /articles/ai-predicts-covid-19-risks-severity-and-treatment-in-hospitalized-patients/?sc=rsin /articles/ai-predicts-covid-19-risks-severity-and-treatment-in-hospitalized-patients/?sc=rsin Fri, 24 Jan 2025 08:30:27 EST Using an AI-driven decision support system to predict the severity of COVID-19 and identify best interventions, researchers analyzed electronic health record data from 5,371 patients admitted to a South Florida hospital. The study specifically aimed to forecast the likelihood of patients requiring admission to an ICU, with or without mechanical ventilation, or an intermediate care unit (IMCU). The goal was to leverage these features to enable faster and more accurate forecasting of treatment plans, potentially preventing critical conditions from worsening. Florida Atlantic University /articles/fau-secures-21m-promise-neighborhoods-grant-for-broward-up-underserved-communities/?sc=rsin /articles/fau-secures-21m-promise-neighborhoods-grant-for-broward-up-underserved-communities/?sc=rsin Thu, 23 Jan 2025 08:30:51 EST South Florida faces significant challenges, including more than 6,000 homeless children in Broward County and issues like absenteeism, mental health struggles, and limited early learning programs. These factors hinder social mobility and education. To address these issues, FAU received a $21 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Promise Neighborhoods program. Florida Atlantic University /articles/fau-launches-new-center-for-integrated-recovery-and-wellness-studies/?sc=rsin /articles/fau-launches-new-center-for-integrated-recovery-and-wellness-studies/?sc=rsin Tue, 21 Jan 2025 08:30:55 EST To help address the impact of social determinants and behavioral health factors on well-being, with a focus on promoting individual and community wellness, building resilience and supporting recovery from substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions, FAU's College of Social Work and Criminal Justice has launched a new center dedicated to advancing research into substance use recovery and promoting community partnerships. Florida Atlantic University /articles/ding-dong-a-study-finds-specific-neurons-with-an-immune-doorbell/?sc=rsin /articles/ding-dong-a-study-finds-specific-neurons-with-an-immune-doorbell/?sc=rsin Fri, 17 Jan 2025 18:30:35 EST FAU neuroscientists have identified that the receptor IL-1R1 plays a critical role in enabling neurons to directly communicate with the immune system. The new study provides the most detailed mapping of neuronal IL-1R1 (nIL-1R1) expression in the mouse brain, clarifying prior inconsistencies. Researchers were able to tag neuronal populations that express nIL-1R1 using a clever cell tagging approach, offering new insights into the functional roles of this receptor in the central nervous system (CNS). Florida Atlantic University /articles/qigong-significantly-decreases-chronic-low-back-pain-in-u-s-military-veterans/?sc=rsin /articles/qigong-significantly-decreases-chronic-low-back-pain-in-u-s-military-veterans/?sc=rsin Fri, 17 Jan 2025 08:30:50 EST Qigong, a traditional Chinese practice combining gentle movements, breathing, and meditation, was assessed for its impact on biopsychosocial outcomes on veterans with chronic low back pain. The study measured pain intensity, disability, pain interference, sleep disturbance, PTSD, depression, anxiety, positive affect, and social roles. Findings showed significant improvements in pain-related outcomes and sleep disturbance in the qigong group compared to the control group. The study also found a significant connection between biological factors, such as inflammation markers, and psychosocial outcomes. Florida Atlantic University /articles/florescent-probes-illuminate-cholesterol-and-alzheimer-s-research/?sc=rsin /articles/florescent-probes-illuminate-cholesterol-and-alzheimer-s-research/?sc=rsin Fri, 17 Jan 2025 08:30:10 EST Cutting-edge fluorescent cholesterol probes now enable scientists to visualize cholesterol movement and distribution in live cells with unprecedented detail. By combining computer simulations with live-cell imaging, researchers have uncovered how different probe designs influence cholesterol probe behavior. These probes could reveal how cholesterol imbalances drive Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative disorders, aiding drug development to modulate lipid activity and potentially offering new treatments or prevention strategies. Florida Atlantic University /articles/digitizing-hope-collaboration-helps-preserve-a-species-on-the-brink-of-extinction/?sc=rsin /articles/digitizing-hope-collaboration-helps-preserve-a-species-on-the-brink-of-extinction/?sc=rsin Tue, 14 Jan 2025 08:30:30 EST Using state-of-the-art, high resolution micro-CT scanning, FAU researchers have scanned a full skeleton of a very rare vaquita specimen from the 1960s. The objective of scanning this rare specimen for display purposes is to facilitate the creation of replicas to be commercially available to further education and conservation efforts of this critically endangered species. The completed scans, which required approximately 165 hours, resulted in a total of three terabytes of data. Florida Atlantic University /articles/bridging-oceans-a-u-s-japan-approach-to-flood-risk-and-climate-resilience/?sc=rsin /articles/bridging-oceans-a-u-s-japan-approach-to-flood-risk-and-climate-resilience/?sc=rsin Thu, 09 Jan 2025 08:30:13 EST A joint U.S.-Japan project funded by the NSF and JST, involving researchers from FAU, Lehigh University, and Japanese institutions like Kyoto University, aims to develop a human-centered flood risk management framework. Supported by a $1 million grant, the three-year project focuses on integrating natural conditions, public perceptions, policies, and the impacts of flooding on vulnerable groups such as low-income, minority, disabled, and elderly populations. Florida Atlantic University /articles/fau-names-lewis-s-nelson-m-d-dean-of-the-schmidt-college-of-medicine/?sc=rsin /articles/fau-names-lewis-s-nelson-m-d-dean-of-the-schmidt-college-of-medicine/?sc=rsin Tue, 07 Jan 2025 20:00:40 EST FAU has named Lewis S. Nelson, M.D., as the new dean of the Schmidt College of Medicine. Nelson previously served as professor and inaugural chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine and chief of the Division of Medical Toxicology and Addiction Medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark, and chief of the Emergency Department at University Hospital of Newark, a public safety net hospital. Florida Atlantic University /articles/fau-s-randy-d-blakely-ph-d-honored-as-a-prestigious-aspet-fellow/?sc=rsin /articles/fau-s-randy-d-blakely-ph-d-honored-as-a-prestigious-aspet-fellow/?sc=rsin Tue, 17 Dec 2024 08:30:53 EST Randy D. Blakely, Ph.D., has been named a Fellow of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET). Designation as an ASPET Fellow recognizes leaders in the field for their exceptional contributions to pharmacological research, education, mentorship and leadership. Florida Atlantic University /articles/breaking-barriers-study-uses-ai-to-interpret-american-sign-language-in-real-time/?sc=rsin /articles/breaking-barriers-study-uses-ai-to-interpret-american-sign-language-in-real-time/?sc=rsin Mon, 16 Dec 2024 08:30:07 EST A study is the first-of-its-kind to recognize American Sign Language (ASL) alphabet gestures using computer vision. Researchers developed a custom dataset of 29,820 static images of ASL hand gestures. Each image was annotated with 21 key landmarks on the hand, providing detailed spatial information about its structure and position. Combining MediaPipe and YOLOv8, a deep learning method they trained, with fine-tuning hyperparameters for the best accuracy, represents a groundbreaking and innovative approach that hasn't been explored in previous research. Florida Atlantic University /articles/fau-engineering-wins-prestigious-2024-jfm-emerging-scholar-best-paper-prize/?sc=rsin /articles/fau-engineering-wins-prestigious-2024-jfm-emerging-scholar-best-paper-prize/?sc=rsin Fri, 13 Dec 2024 08:30:58 EST Researchers from FAU's College of Engineering and Computer Science have won the Journal of Fluid Mechanics' 2023 "Emerging Scholar Best Paper" award, recognizing outstanding work by early-career scholars. The team's winning paper was selected from among nearly 400 eligible papers published in JFM. Florida Atlantic University /articles/wild-birds-gut-microbiome-linked-with-its-ornamentation-and-body-condition/?sc=rsin /articles/wild-birds-gut-microbiome-linked-with-its-ornamentation-and-body-condition/?sc=rsin Tue, 10 Dec 2024 08:30:52 EST FAU researchers spent five years studying the gut microbiomes of Northern cardinals, a common backyard songbird known for its vivid red plumage. Their study explores how microbiome diversity impacts the birds' health, body condition, and ornamental traits, such as their coloration. Florida Atlantic University /articles/fau-receives-6m-grant-to-propel-expansion-of-the-fau-marcus-institute-of-integrative-health/?sc=rsin /articles/fau-receives-6m-grant-to-propel-expansion-of-the-fau-marcus-institute-of-integrative-health/?sc=rsin Tue, 03 Dec 2024 08:30:22 EST The grant from the late Bernie Marcus and The Marcus Foundation will enable the FAU Marcus Institute of Integrative Health to expand its operations to provide more services and conduct more research. The institute also will enhance educational programs and expand community wellness initiatives, ultimately aiming to create a national model that demonstrates the effectiveness of comprehensive integrative health as the optimal approach for achieving overall well-being for everyone. Florida Atlantic University /articles/fau-acquires-state-of-the-art-mri-system-to-advance-research-capabilities/?sc=rsin /articles/fau-acquires-state-of-the-art-mri-system-to-advance-research-capabilities/?sc=rsin Mon, 25 Nov 2024 08:30:18 EST FAU has added a new state-of-the-art Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system to its research infrastructure. This cutting-edge technology marks a transformative step forward for FAU's research capabilities, enabling groundbreaking studies in neuroscience, clinical health and medical advancements. Florida Atlantic University /articles/arslan-munir-ph-d-pioneer-in-smart-technologies-joins-fau-engineering/?sc=rsin /articles/arslan-munir-ph-d-pioneer-in-smart-technologies-joins-fau-engineering/?sc=rsin Thu, 21 Nov 2024 08:30:06 EST The FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science recently welcomed Arslan Munir, Ph.D., an internationally renowned expert, researcher and pioneer in advanced computing and smart technologies who has made numerous contributions to the fields of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and intelligent systems. Florida Atlantic University /articles/virtual-reality-could-be-gamechanger-in-police-civilian-crisis-encounters/?sc=rsin /articles/virtual-reality-could-be-gamechanger-in-police-civilian-crisis-encounters/?sc=rsin Wed, 20 Nov 2024 08:30:33 EST Traditional police training lacks practical tools for handling mental health crises, leaving officers underprepared. New research provides a promising avenue for addressing this gap using VR training by immersing officers in realistic scenarios. Florida Atlantic University /articles/stem-teachers-in-high-need-schools-resilient-despite-rising-demand-dwindling-supply/?sc=rsin /articles/stem-teachers-in-high-need-schools-resilient-despite-rising-demand-dwindling-supply/?sc=rsin Tue, 19 Nov 2024 11:15:39 EST Researchers examined the characteristics and qualifications of the STEM teacher workforce in high-need schools in the U.S. and how they have evolved over nearly 30 years of national workforce surveys. The study primarily used high-poverty schools as the lens for examining differences in STEM teacher qualifications and characteristics over time. Florida Atlantic University